rko OF CON-
AUGHT AND STRATHEARNE, by rank, newly appointed Judicial Commissioner of the province o Chékinng, Tutondant of the circuit of Soochow, Sungkiang, and T'aits'ang, and Joint Con nancier of the For and Official of the 2nd rank, newly appointed Intendant of the circuit of Suochow, Sungkiang, and Tvaits'ang, and Juint Commander of the Forces.
Sit,—On this 19th day of the intercalary 2nd moon of the 16th year of the reign of the Emperor Kuang Hu, your Royal Highness has been pleased to confer upon us the distinguished honour of a visit to Shanghai.
Among the officials and merchants of our Empire of China there isnot one who would not eagerly and joyfully strive to be the first to welcome you.
My colleague and I, who have been for some years resident in the ports of China, [have so constantly heard men of repute, [both Chinese and from western nations, speak in terms of admiration of the distinguished services and brilliant career of your Royal Highness, that you have long held a prominent place in our thoughts.
It is therefore with exceptional pleasure and gratification that we accept the honour of according a personal welcome to so illustrious a guest, We believe that the continuous harmony which has existed between your honoured country and China has attracted universal attention, and we trust that your Royal Highness will be pleased so to identify yourself with thin sentiment that the continuance of these friendly relations may be for ever assured. This desire will continue to bum like sacred incense in the hearts of my colleague and myself.
We pray that her Majesty the Queen may enjoy the blessings of a long life, and that many prosperous years may fall to the lot of your Royal Highness.
His Raya Hicuxess, in reply, expressed his great satisfaction at the special attention which had been shown to him by the Chinese authorities, naval, military' and civil. He was particularly pleased with the Taotai's attentions and with the fact that the Governor General had sent a special officer to offer him a welcome on his landing on the shores of China. His Royal Highness went on to say that he could not think that these decided attentions had been shown him without it being understood that these high officials were representing the views of their imperial master, the Emperor; and that: he (the Duke) consequently took it as an indication. of a desire on the part of the Emperor of China to maintain with the British nation the continuous and friendly relations to which the Taotais had referred in their address, He trusted that there would be an opportunity of communicating to his Majesty the Emperor the appreciation of the courtesy wu towards the son of her august. Majesty, the Queen of England. The Duke concluded by proposing the health of the Ewyperor of China, which was drunk by all standing. The Duke's observations Ww translated to the Taotais by their prefer, Mr. Zee.
Before the Royal party left, the Duchess sent for her autograph album, and requested the two Taotais to inscribe their names and official styles therein, which they di Some of the foreign visitors were al honoured with a request for their autographs. The Taotais took the opportunity of presenting the Duke and Duchess with mementoes of their visit. The Duchess received from Taotai Nich a Cantonese fan on which some hundreds of Chinese figures were represented, and which was niounted in an exceptionally finely carved i ory. Taotai Kung presented the h_a splendid specimen of ivor carving. The presents (including the address, which was emblazoned in gold cha-rackets 2 inches square on scarlet silk) were f|euclosed in handsome wood or lacquer boxes. The other members of the party received printed copies of the address in English and Chinese well executed at the Customs Statistical Department. The dinner cards were also in English and Chinese. The police arrangements at the Tien How Kung, under the personal supervision of Capt. McEuen, gave entire satisfaction.
After leaving the Tien How Kung, the Royal party were driven to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co's, where they arrived at about ten o'clock and whence they saw the illuminations. Their Royal Highnesses expressed to a considerable number of residents in Shanghai with whom they came in contact great appreciation of all that had been done here to entertain them, and especially of the exceedingly cordial and quite unusual welcome they had received from the Chinese authorities. On the, whole, the Shanghai welcome appeared _to make considerable impression on their Royal Highnesses.
The illuminations on Tuesday night were on a grand scale. Some 20,000 Chinese lanterns were used in the public luminations, and some thousands by pri-vote persons, giving a very fairy-like appearance to the scene. The lanterns were of all sizes, shapes and colours, many being of Japanese manufacture, and as there was no rain they preserved their beauty tothe end. Thelighting up took some hours, and was attended with considerable difficulty owing to the greatthrongofuatives who assembled early in the evening, the bund being covered with a solid mass of men, women and children. The wind was
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.